Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), a regional health system headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, serves an area of more than one million people. Founded in 1902, AAMC includes a 380-bed not-for-profit hospital, a medical group, imaging services, a substance use treatment center, and health enterprises. In addition to a 57-acre Annapolis campus, AAMC has outpatient pavilions in Bowie, Kent Island, Odenton and Waugh Chapel.
AAMC is nationally recognized for its joint replacement center, emergency heart attack response and cancer care. A leader in women’s services, AAMC delivers the state’s second highest number of births annually and has a Level 3b neonatal intensive care unit. With more than 1,000 medical staff members, 3,900 employees and 750 volunteers, AAMC consistently receives awards for quality, patient satisfaction and innovation.
History
At the turn of the 20th century, the growth of Annapolis as an educational and government center spurred the need for better health care. On February 17, 1902, papers were filed with the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by the Annapolis Emergency Hospital Association to establish a local hospital. Land was purchased on March 31 of that year at the corner of Franklin and Cathedral Streets in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. On July 18, 1902, the Annapolis Emergency Hospital opened its doors to its first patients.
In 1959, the hospital, now known as Anne Arundel General Hospital, achieved full accreditation from The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals in July 1958, an honor that only around half of the hospitals in the country enjoyed at that time.
Over the years, the hospital outgrew the original building and plans were developed to start building the hospital’s current Medical Park location. In 1984, 104 acres of land were purchased and in 1987 ground broke on the building of an MRI center, an oncology center and an outpatient surgery center. Construction on the Rebecca M. Clatanoff Pavilion, the hospital’s women’s services and birth center, began in 1993.
The hospital officially changed its name to Anne Arundel Medical Center and housed all buildings and campuses under the name Anne Arundel Health System.
Plans moved forward in 1998 to consolidate all services at Medical Park with the commencement of construction of the Acute Care Pavilion. After it opened on December 2, 2001, patients were moved from the downtown Annapolis campus to the new location on Jennifer Road.
In 2007, expansion began at the Medical Park campus with the building of several new garages and the Health Sciences Pavilion. In 2009 the pavilion opened, offering an expanded Breast Center, outpatient rehab programs and doctor’s offices.
In 2008, construction began on an expanded acute care tower and emergency department. The newest tower opened in April 2011. Due to its concentration on green construction, at the time the tower was the only LEED Certified Gold patient care tower in Maryland.
In 2014, the hospital announced it would no longer hire people that smoked cigarettes.
Services
Women’s and Children’s Services
At the Women’s and Children’s Center, services are available to help women make proactive, informed choices about health care for themselves and their families.
The center offers multigenerational programs to support a woman from the time she begins gynecological care through the childbearing years and beyond. Services offered include all-inclusive maternity, newborn and pediatric care; advanced treatments for any health challenges women and their families may encounter; and extensive screening, prevention and wellness programs.
The Breast Center
The Breast Center is an affiliate of Anne Arundel Medical Center and is nationally recognized for its outstanding care, research and comprehensive programs.
Breast cancer has historically been detected through self exams and mammograms, and confirmed by biopsy. All breast imaging at the center is read by board-certified radiologists who are mammography specialists. Screening mammography is used for early detection of breast cancer in women without any symptoms. Diagnostic mammography helps characterize breast masses or determine causes of other breast symptoms.
All of the imaging technologists at the Breast Center are licensed and certified by the state and have specialized training in all mammography procedures. Studies have documented fewer missed tumors and earlier detection of abnormalities when images are read by a radiologist specializing in breast imaging.
The Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute
The Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute encompasses a large array of services ranging from prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment through survivorship. Many different types of professionals contribute to the care of patients. The center offers support services for patients and families, including nurse navigation, education, genetic counseling, support groups, social work and psychology services.
AAMC was the first hospital in Maryland to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery using the da Vinci robotic surgery system. This machine enables physicians to perform the most complex procedures using very small incisions. The robotic arm optimizes hand movements, providing exceptional dexterity and control. In addition, the surgical team is able to view 3D images magnified 10 times, which allows them to manipulate tiny instruments in spaces that are otherwise beyond their reach.
Cancers are effectively treated by utilizing technologies such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), high dose radiation (HDR) and Novalis stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy. Noninvasive Novalis is especially useful for treating tumors in places too difficult to reach using conventional surgical methods.
Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) combined with Computed Tomography (CT) physicians can search for the distinct metabolic signature of cancer cells, plot the exact location, shape and size of a tumor, and recommend the best treatment.
The Patient and Family Services program streamlines patient access to information and people who can help with psychosocial, emotional and spiritual issues.
Professionals in areas such as counseling, social work, and medical and financial assistance are available to meet with patients and provide guidance and recommendations. Nutrition counseling, complementary therapies, support groups, and specialized treatment programs are also offered. Services include:
- Cancer Prevention and Screening
- Genetic Counseling
- Lymphedema Center
- Nurse Navigators
- Nutrition Counseling
- Smoking Cessation/Nicotine Dependence Program
- Social Workers
- Spiritual Care
- Support Groups
Heart and Vascular Institute
In 1966, the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) opened. The unit brought the hospital national recognition and greatly improved the survival chances of cardiac patients. Such units were common for large teaching hospitals, but such a unit in a community hospital at the time was unheard of.
Over the last decade, the heart and vascular program has grown dramatically. The Heart & Vascular Institute features a dedicated Heart and Vascular Unit, vascular screening programs, vascular surgery and treatment, cardiac-catheterization, interventional medicine, emergency and elective angioplasty, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and interventional radiology. AAMC is also a designated cardiac intervention center (CIC), and participates in the C-PORT E program, offering elective angioplasty services to the community.
The AAMC Heart and Vascular Institute is nationally recognized as a standard for care and treatment of heart attack patients and recipient of the 2011 Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology.
The Joint Center
The AAMC Joint Center is a dedicated unit designed for patients that employs staff solely focused on joint replacement surgery. The Center's nurturing atmosphere offers an optimal healing environment and involves group physical therapy, training with family members, and lunch with staff and fellow patients.
The Spine Center
The multidisciplinary team includes physicians, and clinical and support staff who specialize in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, physiatry (physical medicine and rehabilitation), and interventional radiology.
Conditions Treated (cervical and lumbar):
Degenerative Disorders
- Disc disease
- Sciatica
- Radiculopathy
- Disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Myelopathies
- Kyphosis
- Tumors, & fractures
Spinal Deformities
- Kyphosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Tumors
- Spinal Fractures
- Failed fusions / revisions
Surgical Services
AAMC offers sub-specialty care in every area of surgery, from Breast and Vascular to Urogynecologic incontinence surgery to the busiest joint replacement program in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Minimally invasive techniques are in use throughout the full range of surgical care, from spinal surgery to laparoscopic abdominal techniques to DaVinci robotic surgery for prostate and gynecological surgery.
The surgical staff features a group of full-time in-house abdominal surgeons dedicated to the care of surgical emergencies. All surgeons are rigorously trained and credentialed, and are supported by state-of-the-art nursing, imaging and laboratory services.
References
External links
- Anne Arundel Medical Center Website
